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Frank Donnelly buys Max Gschwind’s Champ. Along with his “Dr. D’s Ole Time Aerobatics” he plans to get his Light Sport’s CFI and add instructing to his long listing of aviation ratings.
“Yankee” Raiders Ride Again! |
October 6, 2009 CAF members make the annual trip to Midland Texas (Redneck Mecca) for the CAF Airsho. The usual suspects rendezvous at Cliff and Barbara Heathcoats’ airport, VV1, in Lucerne Valley, Tuesday night, for secret libations and the exchange of exaggerated hangar intercourse (protected of course) (ask your mommy). The Cable gaggle was joined by the Riverside gaggle that first night in the desert, then traveled together for the rest of the trip. Kind of like a traveling TFR. Can you picture what this formation must have looked like? The Antonov AN2 being swarmed across the Southwest by the PT-22, the Fokker, the Wingeal, the C172, C175, L-4, L-5, Piper Arrow, Navion and a guest appearance by the US Customs Helicopter! You could not write this script. If they had filed a flight plan, Homeland Security would have gone from Orange to Red Alert! The population of Dell City was so confused, they had a civil defense drill and went into shelters. (They may still be there now). After eating and drinking themselves into history, this ragtag posse of aero-confusion hoisted themselves into the air Wednesday morning, departing for unfamiliar, hostile territory. What lay ahead was the merciless desert and foreign outposts slithering with unsavory characters, scorpions, Gila monsters and local color. If you have made this trip and survived, you may have heard of the likes of Blythe, Buckeye, Marana, Cochise, Deming, Tucson, Dona Ana, Dell City, Wink, and finally Midland Texas. If you have never heard of these tropical paradises, then you ain’t missed nutin’! So, don’t read any further, and don’t bother thinking of all the fun you missed. There is just no reason to want to do this……...NOT! Photos and content contributed by Terri Polley and Chris LeFave |
Early October finds a number of CAF 3rd Pursuit Squadron Cableites and Inland Empire Wing members heading eastbound
for the annual CAF Airsho 'gaggle' to Midland Texas . Bob Cable, Terri Polley and Chris La Fav loaded up the AN-2 with
what they thought was everything and headed to Cliff Heathcoats' VV1 in Lucerne Valley , along with Terry Freedman in the PT-22 for the overnite stay prior to the Wednesday am gaggle 
launch. Cliff's Fokker was already there, as well as Doug and Bev Schuster and Barbara Heathcoat. Doug Latch and Brownie Spaulding had arrived via 172 early in the day. Ed Cleveland in his Cessna 175 with Roy Test, Andy Conley and Dave Mihelich in the L-4, Pete -- 'Pipes' Bud Ukes, and Anthony Mihelich in a Piper Arrow and Fred Tedesco in his Navion all from the Inland Empire Wing arrived at the same time in spectacular confusion. Last to arrive was Mark Awad and Chip Robinson, in the Australian trainer Wingeal. Mark discovered all of Cliff's runway caution cones with his landing gear.
And.....what about that stuff that was forgotten on the hangar floor back at Cable? 
It was all of the Inland Empire Wing's PX supplies! Just when it looked like a drive back to Cable - Mike Polley to the rescue! And just how much can you stuff in a 172? Two ten x ten pop-up canopies, two folding 6 foot tables, 4 chairs, various supply boxes and 1 flexible passenger. Mike said it made for a very interesting landing at VV-1.......
With everyone on the ground, hamburgers and beverages were had by all. Carl Robinson made an overhead pass in his US Customs helicopter and as the sun went down, Bud 'Pipes' Ukes made his annual pre-Midland trip announcements- renaming the gaggle to the "Yankee" Raiders, and Cliff the pre-flight briefing for the next day's dawn launch. Stories and beverages were consumed - all headed to various sleeping arrangeme
nts - in and out of the hangar.
Wednesday dawned beautiful and windless - perfect. The little L-4 launched first for the first stop - Blythe, followed by the PT-22, Fokker, Wingeal, AN-2, 2 Cessnas and the Piper. The L-4 and Pt-22 landed first, got fuel and headed back out, even before the last of the gaggle arrived. On again to Buckeye, then Marana, Cochise, and the last stop for the day, Deming , NM . Sometimes, stragglers would skip a stop to catch up with the others. Cliff, with the best of intentions, had brought an entire case of military MRE's for the planned lunch stop at 
Marana..... but, after looking the packaging over, everyone decided to get a hamburger at the airport cafe. Pushing onward, everyone dove under, skirted around or talked their way through Tucson 's airspace heading around the mountains to Cochise and then finally, Deming. It was hot and bumpy!
Mike Polley - who had returned to Cable the previous evening, launched late Wednesday afternoon in the L-5 and by 7 pm had made it to Marana. Early the next morning, a 5am launch got him into Deming - via a very cold rain squall, just as the last of the gaggle was taking off for Dona Ana. 
Fueling and skipping Dona Ana, Mike caught up with everyone at Dell City - just west of Mt Guadalupe, NM. Dell City has no fuel for the L-4 and PT-22, but it does have room for the AN-2 who deports what's needed. Fueled again, passengers redistributed, the L-4 and Pt-22 head east for Wink, TX, and rest of the gaggle finished posing in front of their airplanes for the town's newspaper reporter and then they' were on their way.
Wink, TX, is the home of Roy Orbison and one of the friendliest FBO's you're likely to see: a notepad and pen are tied to the door - just write down how much fuel you pumped - your name and address - they'll send you the bill. Everyone fuels at W
ink and from there - a short 70 nm hop into Midland .
At Midland , some of the 'Yankee Raiders' are marshallers, some fly in the air shows, some operate the Inland Empire 's Px set-up, and some just enjoy the event. Due to weather around the country, this year the ramp was light in airplanes. The weather also canceled Sunday's Airsho performances - but not the enthusiasm of spectators - many of whom sat in the rain to watch the improvised 'taxi-parade'. Poor weather not withstanding – celebrations were enjoyed, friendships renewed, and revelry prevailed.
The trip home was delayed due to weather, one airplane was left behind, as well as a couple of 'Raiders'. Due to the delayed departure, Bud Ukes fortuitously decided to visit an urgent care facility for congestion and was immediately hospitalized. The following day he rec'd a pace maker. Inland Empire Wing member Tom Dixs stayed with Bud, they both came home that Friday. For the gaggle - the return trip was done.
As with every previous trip, this one had its memorable moments and plans gone awry... and why, we can't wait for next year's trip!
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Tom Hughes, Home Town Rentals, 2610 N. Garey Ave. Pomona
Offers discount rentals to Cable Tenants—www.hometownrentals.net
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